Cap and shield for nursing bottle



May 22, 1956 H. W. wnjz CAP AND SHIELD FOR NURSING BOTTLE 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 1W. -ii

Inventor HENRY W. Wrrz May 22, 1956 H. w. wlTz CAP AND SHIELD FORNURSING BOTTLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1953 y 5 m l e InventorHENRY W. W'Tz United States PatefiV O CAP. AND SHIELD FOR NURSING BOTTLEHenry W. Witz, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Nursmatic Corporation,Chicago, Ill., a corporation oi? Delaware Application February 24, 1953,serial No. 338,225

8 Claims. (Cl. 21S11) This invention relates to improvements in a capand shield for a nursing bottle and refers particularlyto a cap andshield so contrived that the shield may be conveniently mounted upon thecap even when the parts are at an elevated sterilizing temperature.

Caps and shields for nursing bottles are usually constructed of aplastic material having non-toxic properties and although the materialcomprising the caps and shields may be the same and have the samecoeicient of expansion and contraction, they are made with differentthicknesses and dimensions and, hence, when subjected to variations intemperatures their respective overall expansionsor contractions aredifferent. This frequently gives rise to a difficulty in preparing thebaby-s food, since the parts, during such preparation, are sterilized byheat and, depending upon the time of sterilization, will differentiallyexpand and contract to a predetermined degree. j

Hence, a shield which, under some circumstances, may tit a cap in anadequate manner, under other circumstances, cannot be made to t the capor in Vbeing made to do so may be broken. According, to `make the capand shield of predetermined xed, standard dimensions results indifficulty by the user when precise instructions as to use are notfollowed.

The present invention is directed to a nursing bottle cap and shield sodevised that, even though exposed to the elevated temperatures necessaryin conditioning the baby food, the shield can always be convenientlymounted upon the cap without forcing or breaking the same.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the accompanyingdrawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a nursing i bottle with thenipple-carrying cap and'shield in place.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3` 3 of Fig. 2. Y l

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged diagrammatic view showing the geometricalconstruction of the cap.

Fig. 5 isa diagrammatic sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Y

Referring in detailto the drawings, 1 indicates a conventional nursingbottle having anopen mouth, the neck of the bottle being provided withthreads 2 for 'engagement with threads 3 carried by an annular tlange 4of a nipple-carrying cap 5. At its top, the cap 5 has `an inturnedannular flange 6 providing an apertured center for the reception of arubber nipple 7 having a base flange 8 which is clamped between the capflange 6 and the upper defining edge of the bottle mouth to hold thenipple in place. The nipple 7, shown, carries a valve 9, but thespecific type of nipple employed forms -no part of the presentinvention, that is, any conventional type of nipple may be used. z j

, In order to prevent contamination of the nipple 7 durling handling andstoring of the bottle when it carries 2,746,631 lian-,magi` May z2, ye

baby food a shield 10 s employed, the shield comprising a dome-shapedportion 11 adapted to accommodate and cover the nipple 7, and acap-engaging portion 12 which iits over or embraces the ange 4 of thecap 5. The outer surface of the cap-engaging portionv 12 of the shieldcarries a plurality of axially disposed ribs 13 which reinforce theportion 12 and contribute to its ornamental appearance.

The inner surface of the portion 12 carries a pair of diametricallyopposite, axially disposed ribs 14 which are preferably of arcuatecross-section and which are parallel throughout the major portion oftheir length, being relieved, as at 15 in Pig. 2, to facilitate mountingupon the cap flange 4. The purpose of ribs 14 will be hereinafter morefully described.

As an important feature of the present invention, axially parallelgrooves 15, shown on a greatly enlarged scale in Fig. 4, are provided inthe outer face of the cap ange 4, said grooves being provided for thereception of ribs 14 on the inside of the cap-engaging portion 12 of theshield 10. Each of the grooves 15 is tapered axially, tapering outwardlyfrom its upper portion to its lower portion, as shown best at 16 in Fig.5. In addition, each groove 15 is of substantially uniform width anddepth throughout its length and-.the depths and widths of `all of thegrooves are substantially the same.

The important feature of the grooves 15, is best illustrated in Fig. 4,wherein the relationship of the grooves 15 to the axis of the cap 5 isshown. The entire circumference of the ange 4 may be considered ascomprising four .quadrants, the pattern of the grooves 15 of eachquadrant duplicating itself in all other quadrants. Further, eachquadrant may be considered as being divided .angularly into two arcseach of forty-five degrees, the

pattern of the grooves embraced by each 45 arc being symmetrical aboutthe angular mid-line of each quadrant.

1n Fig. 4 the radial line 17 may be considered as a quadrant dividingline and the radial line 18 may be considered as the quadrant mid-line,that is, the lines 17 `and 18l are angularly spaced 45 from each other.Included in the angular span of each quadrant, eight grooves 15 areembraced, four grooves being embraced between the lines 17 and 18. Itwill be noted that the base of groove 15a, at its upper end is tangentwith a pitch line 19 which is at a VXed radius from the center of theflange 14. It will also be noted that the base of groove 15b,

the groove adjacentgroove 15a, is spaced from the pitchv line 19. Groove15e, adjacent to groove 15b, is further spaced from the pitch line andthe adjacent groove 15d is spaced at a maximum from said line. Thus, theare joining the bases of the grooves 15 throughout the span includedbetween lines 17 and 18 is eccentric with respect to the axis of theange 4.

As has been hereinbefore described, the pattern of the grooves 15 issymmetrical about the mid-line of the quadrant and hence, the base ofgroove 20 on the opposite side of the line 18 is spaced from the pitchline 19 a distance equal to the spacing of the base of groove 15d `fromsaid pitch line. In similar fashion the base of the groove (not shown)next to groove 20 is spaced a distance equal to the spacing of the baseof the groove 15e from the pitch line 19, and so on throughout thequadrant in question.y

It has `also been brought out that the pattern followed by the grooves15 repeats itself in all quadrants. Hence, the base of the groove 21 onthe other side of the quadrant dividing line 17 is tangent with thepitch line 19. Thus, the pattern of .the grooves 15 in the outer wall ofthe flange 4 is symmetrical about the quadrant dividing lines,l and thepattern of the grooves in each quadrant is symmetrical about the 45quadrant mid-lines.

It is intended that the lshield 10 be positioned over the nipple 7 andthe cap 5, the shield being moved in an axial direction over the capwith the ribs 14 engaging in opposite grooves 15. Thus it will be seenthat each rib 14 may engage in any one vof four different type grooves15. In view of the fact that all diametrically opposite grooves 15 areof the same type, engaging one rib 14 with, for instance, groove 15awill automatically cause the opposite rib to be engaged in a similargroove 15a, and so on. The crests of the ribs 14 are parallel to cachother and are parallel to the axis of the bottle, cap and shield whereasthe bases of the grooves 15 are tapered axially. Hence, by rotating thecap throughout 45 any one of a plurality of fitting conditions may besecured between the shield and the cap.

The arrangement hereinbefore described is adapted to compensate for twovariables, one of which resides in the nature of the material comprisingthe cap and the shield and the other arises through the manner in whichthe parts are handled or conditioned, particularly during sterilization.Both of these variables are of importance because of the fact that thedegree of expansion and contraction of the cap and hood, because oftheir geometrical construction, are different. It has been found thatthe cap expands and contracts to a greater degree than the shield, thatis, with respect to flange 4 of cap 5 and the flange-engaging portion 12of the shield 10, possibly due to the greater thickness of the flange 4relative to the flange-engaging portion 12.

The first variable, mentioned hereinbefore, resides in the fact thatsuccessive batches of the material compris ing the caps and shieldscannot be so accurately controlled as to characteristics of expansionand contraction that caps and shields of fixed, standard dimensions canbe employed. That is, if fixed, standard sized molds were employed, thecaps and shields made from one batch of material may have expansion andcontraction characteristics which might be suitable for said dimensionsbut, caps and shields made to the same dimensions from another batch ofthe material may not be satisfactory. Inasmuch as it is not commerciallyfeasible to tailor the dimensions of the caps and shields to batches ofmaterial in accordance with their changing charactcristics, the presentinvention is employed to compensate for this manufacturing diiculty.

As to the second variable, mentioned hereinbefore, this is entirely outof the control of the manufacturer and is dependent upon the manner inwhich the user handles the caps and shields. Substantially all nontoxicplastics and resins suitable for the manufacture of nursing bottle capsand shields are water or moisture absorbent to a degree which is ofimportance in this particular use. Hence, if in the step ofsterilization of the nipples, caps and shields one user subjects thecaps and shields to a longer period of sterilization than another, theexpansion of the caps and shields will be different in each case due towater or moisture absorption. Accordingly, caps and shields of fixed,standard dimensions may be suitable in one instance but entirelyunsuitable in the other.

ln utilizing the cap and shield of the present invention there are, ingeneral, two accepted methods of sterilization. In one method, thenipple, cap, shield and bottle are separately immersed in hot water fora predetermined period of time until sterilization is accomplished. Theparts are then removed, the bottle filled with baby food and the cap andnipple disposed upon the bottle. At this period, the parts being warm,the cap will be expanded to a degree greater than the shield. Hence, ifa cap and shield of fixed dimensions were employed diiculty would beencountered in positioning the shield upon the cap, and in the process,frequently where the sterilization period has been long, the shield maybe broken. To make the relative dimensions of the cap and shield suchthat the shield could, after any length of sterilization period, beconveniently mounted upon the cap, the

shield, after the parts were lowered to room temperature or subjected torefrigeration temperature, would fit so loosely over the cap that itsfunction would essentially be defeated.

In employing the present invention, when the shield is placed over thecap, the operator may conveniently select a pair of grooves 15a, 15b,15C or 15d wherein the shield can be snugly positioned upon the cap. Byvirtue of the construction of the grooves 15 a series of fits ofincreasing snugness may be secured as the ribs 14 are moved from 15a to15b to 15e and so on. Thus, the shield may be placed upon the capWithout rupturing the shield and yet a t of sufficient snugness may beobtained wherein the shield will still function as such after the partshave reached normal temperature or have been refrigerated.

In the second method of sterilization, the parts comprising the cap,nipple and shield loosely assembled are mounted on the bottle, the capbeing loosely screwed upon the bottle, and the entire assembly issubjected to steam for a predetermined sterilizing period. At thisstage, the ribs 14 may be conveniently inserted in grooves 15a whichgives the loosest lit. After sterilization the bottle may be filled withbaby food and the cap may then be tightened upon the bottle and theshield may then be disposed upon the cap with the ribs 14 in a selectedpair of grooves 15a, 15b, 15e` or 15d to give a desired snug fit.

Thus, a nursing bottle cap and shield arrangement is provided which willcompensate for conditions of use which are uncontrollable by themanufacturer and the user will be provided with a cap and shield for anursing bottle which will render the preparation of baby food moreconvenient and less expensive.

I claim as my invention:

l. A- cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising anipple-clamping element having a substantially annular flange forengagement with the open end portion of a nursing bottle, the outersurface of said substantially annular llange being provided with aplurality of substantially parallel, substantially axially disposedadjacent grooves, the bases of certain of said grooves in apredetermined transaxial plane being disposed at different distancesfrom the axis of said cap, said shield comprising an annularcap-engaging flange for substantially coaxial positioning around theoutside of 'the cap flange, and a plurality of axial ribs each having acircumferential width substantially equal to the circumferential widthof each groove carried on the inner surface of said shield flange forengagement with certain of said grooves of said cap flange.

2. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap cornprising anipple-clamping element having a substantially annular flange forengagement with the open end portion of a nursing bottle, the outersurface of said flange being provided with a plurality of adjacentgrooves the tangential axis of each of which is coplanar with the axisof said flange, the bases of certain of said grooves in a predeterminedtransaxial plane being disposed at different distances from the axis ofsaid cap, and the base of each of said grooves along its length beinginclined to the axis of the flange, said shield comprising an annularcapengaging flange for substantially coaxial positioning exteriorly withrespect to the cap flange, and a plurality of axial ribs carlied on theinner surface of said shield flange for engagement with certain of saidgrooves of said cap flange.

3. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising anipple-clamping element having a substantially annular flange forengagement with the open end portion of a nursing bottle, the outersurface of said flange being provided with a plurality of adjacentgrooves the tangential axis of each of which is coplanar with the axisof said flange, said grooves being disposed in an even number ofcircumferentially'adjacent groups each group comprising a plurality ofgrooves in which the bases of all the i grooves in a predetermined groupare disposed at different distances from the axis of said ange in apredetermined plane at right-angles to said axis, the bases ofdiametrically opposite grooves being the same distance from the axis ofsaid ange, said shield comprising an annular cap-engaging flange forsubstantially coaxial positioning around the outside of the cap flange,and diametrically opposite axial ribs carried on the inner surface ofsaid shield ange for engagement with opposite grooves of certain of saidgroups of grooves in said cap iiange.

4. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising anipple-clamping member having a substantially annular flange forengagement with the open-end portion of a nursing bottle, the outersurface of said flange being provided With an even number of similargroups of grooves, each group containing a plurality of adjacentgrooves, the bases of the grooves of alternate groups being atprogressively greater distancesfrom the axis of the ange andthe bases ofthe grooves of intermediate groups being at progressively lesserdistances from the axis of said ange, the bases of diametricallyopposite grooves being at substantially the same distance from said angeaxis, said shield comprising an annular cap-engaging flange forsubstantially coaxial positioning on the outside of said cap ange, anddametrically opposite ribs carried on the inner surface of said shieldiiange for engagement with opposite grooves of certain of saidrgroups ofgrooves in said cap flange.

5. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising anipple-clamping member having a substantially annular ange forengagement with the open-end portion of a nursing bottle, the outersurface of said ange being provided with an even number of similargroups of grooves, each group containing a plurality of adjacentgrooves, the bases of the grooves of alternate groups being atprogressively greater distances from the axis of the ange and the basesofthe grooves'of intermediate groups being at progressively lesserdistances from the axis of said flange, in a predetermined plane atright-angles to the ange axis, the bases of diametrically oppositegrooves being at substantially the same distance from said flange axisand the base of each of said grooves along its length being inclined tothe axis of said ange, said shield comprising an annular cap-engagingange for substantially coaxial positioning on the outside of said capange, and diametrically opposite ribs carried von the inner surface ofsaid shield ange for engagement with opposite grooves of certain of saidgroups of grooves in said cap flange.

6. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising anipple-clamping member having a substantially annular ange forengagement with the open-end portion of a nursing bottle, the outersurface of said flange being provided with an even number of similargroups of grooves, each group containing a plurality of adjacentgrooves, the bases of the grooves of alternate groups being atprogressively greater distances from the axis of the flange and thebases of the grooves of intermediate groups being at progressivelylesser distances from the axis of said iange, in a predetermined planeat right-angles to the flange axis, the bases of diametrically oppositegrooves being at substantially the same ldistance from said flange axis,and the base of each of said grooves along its length being inclined atthe same angle to the axis of said ange, said shield comprising anannular cap-engaging flange for substantially coaxial positioning on theoutside of isaid cap ilange, and diametrically opposite ribs carried onthe inner surface of said shield flange for engagement with oppositegrooves of certain of said groups of grooves in said cap ange.

7. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising anipple-clamping element having a substantially annular ange forengagement with the open end portion of a nursing bottle, the outersurface of said substantially annular flange being provided with aplurality of substantially parallel, substantially axially disposedadjacent grooves of substantially the same width, the bases of certainof said grooves in a predetermined transaxial plane being disposed atdifferent distances from the axis of said cap, said shield comprising anannular cap-engaging ange for substantially coaxial positioning aroundthe outside of the cap ange, and a plurality of axial ribs ofsubstantially the same circumferential width as the circumferentialwidth of each of the grooves carried on the inner surface of said shieldflange for engagement with certain of said grooves of said cap iange.

8. A cap and shield for a nursing bottle, said cap comprising anipple-clamping element having a substantially annular ange forengagement with the open end portion of a nursing bottle, the outersurface of said substantially annular ange being provided with aplurality of substantially parallel, substantially axially disposedadjacent grooves, the bases of certain of said grooves in apredetermined transaxial plane being disposed at different distancesfrom the axis of said cap, said shield comprising an annularcap-engaging ange for substantially coaxial positioning around theoutside of the cap flange, and a plurality of axial ribs carn'ed on theinner `surface of said shield flange for engagement with certain of saidgrooves of said cap ange.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

